Spring 2002

Career Planning Center evaluates, strengthens services

Job fairs expose students to placement opportunities.

Wait a minute - aren't they arch rivals? After all, there are only so many jobs and internships, and every career planning and placement director worth his or her salt is after each and every one. Why then would Michael Dalton, director of Fairfield's Career Planning Center, invite his counterparts from Boston College, College of the Holy Cross, Fordham University, Loyola College of Maryland, Providence College, St. Joseph's University, Trinity College, Villanova University, and Wesleyan University to invade his turf?

The idea started, says Dalton, as a means for Fairfield to conduct a self-assessment - to see how it might stack up against other career planning and placement departments. Then there was the desire to discover if, and how, these peer institutions might work together to improve services for their students. Finally, there was the impact of a new economy to discuss - one that included a recession and the effects of the September 11 terrorist action.

So in early December 2001, Dalton invited his peers to Fairfield for a day-long meeting that examined each of these topics. What did Dalton discover? Read on.

The Self-Assessment

When all was said and done, Fairfield's CPC fared well. As the day wore on and department missions were discussed, it became clear that some schools emphasize career advising, while others have a placement orientation. Although Fairfield is among those schools that emphasize recruitment, CPC makes a number of beneficial career advising options available to students. These include orientation programs for new students, individual career counseling, career assessment testing, career panel presentations for undergraduate and graduate students, and a career resource library.

That today's technology-savvy students turn to the Internet for career planning assistance met with universal agreement among meeting participants, who discussed the impact of e-recruiting, a program that allows students to submit resumes directly to employers who post jobs on a university's Web site. While e-recruiting speeds up the application process for students, it also reduces the amount of time they spend reviewing their resumes with career counselors. How to balance the pros and cons of this electronic tool concerns CPC staff, who are considering adding e-recruitment to CPC's home page, where students can view company recruitment schedules; find dates for corporate presentations, workshops, career panel presentations, and other events on the CPC calendar; and look at job postings.

Working Cooperatively

Among the colleges and universities attending the December meeting, all agreed on one thing: Working cooperatively makes sense. Under consideration are internship sharing opportunities and cross-institutional invitations to select career planning events. While students will certainly benefit from this reciprocity among schools, they will benefit far more from the mentoring relationships that were developed.

Specifically, peer counseling and sophomore self-assessment are being considered for Fairfield's CPC. Wesleyan's peer counseling program, which employs trained junior and senior students to conduct career counseling events for freshmen and sophomores, provides CPC with both a model and a means to evaluate the effectiveness of such a program. Similarly, Holy Cross employs a strong sophomore self-assessment program to help young students consider career options early on. "This plays into our desire to reach our students sooner," says Dalton, who will use Holy Cross' experience to help CPC assess the viability of introducing a similar program at Fairfield.

The New Economy

Employers and prospective employees connect at job fairs and other CPC events.

The economic downturn that began before the September 11 tragedies and worsened in the days that followed impacted career planning in two ways: Fewer students are visiting career planning and placement offices, and jobs are harder to come by. All but two of the participating schools reported that fewer students had visited their offices since September 11. While the upsurge in Internet use may account for some of it, Dalton wonders if students simply have a different perspective on the world right now - one that perhaps includes being drafted or remaining unemployed for a longer period of time.

But for those students who are actively seeking permanent jobs or summer internships, persistence and a bit of creativity are in order. That's because fewer employers are recruiting on campuses these days, employers are taking on fewer trainees and are seeking specific skills and traits in those they do take, and more interns are receiving offers of permanent employment than in the past, says Dalton. To help students overcome these obstacles, CPC has stepped up its efforts to keep and increase employer interest in Fairfield job fairs. And the Fairfield Alumni Network has been asked to take a more active role in helping place Fairfield students. The Fairfield Alumni Network comprises some 300 alumni from all professions who volunteer their time advising students and presenting career information. Recently CPC staff asked them to assist further by identifying jobs in their firms and encouraging their employers to hire Fairfield students. But, cautions Dalton, students can no longer sit by the wayside until the perfect job appears. They must be proactive in seeking opportunities, they must be prepared to pursue those opportunities that arise, and they must be professional in their approach - all things that Fairfield's Career Planning Center can help them with.

When Eating Disorders Strike

Obsessing about weight and body image leads to eating disorders - such as anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating, and excessive exercising - all of which are on the rise among college-age women and men nationwide. That's why Fairfield University recently entered into a partnership with The Renfrew Center, the nation's leading organization dedicated exclusively to addressing eating disorders and related mental health issues. Through this partnership, students have access to the expertise of staff from The Renfrew Center and the University's counseling and health services office. Using a comprehensive team approach, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, nurses, medical doctors, and a nutritionist work with eating disordered students to help them stabilize their symptoms, improve their coping skills, recognize and express their feelings, and address the underlying emotional issues that led to the eating disorder.

According to Susan Birge, Ed.D., assistant vice president of student resources and director of counseling services, "Bringing The Renfrew Center to campus is one more way that Fairfield continuously tries to upgrade the quality of care for its students."

If you, your daughter, or your son would like additional information about this program, please call (203) 254-4000 ext. 2146 or visit www.renfrew.org.

An investment in the future

By Ed and Maureen Carey

During the last two years, Fairfield's campus has undergone tremendous change. Three major buildings - the library, the campus center, and the science center - have each been expanded and renovated. These updated facilities offer our children many opportunities: to engage in interactive, real-world, learning experiences; to explore leadership potential; to develop important interpersonal skills; and to prepare for careers in a rapidly changing work environment. And with these improvements, Fairfield continues to strengthen its reputation, not only regionally but nationally, which translates into a degree whose value continues to grow for our sons and daughters.

But these improvements are not without cost. The University's current capital campaign has raised significant dollars to pay for Fairfield's recent facility improvements. And Fairfield has made every effort to keep tuition increases to a minimum during the past five years. But campaign contributions don't cover ongoing operational expenses in the new - or old - buildings. Nor does tuition. That's where the Annual Fund comes in.

The Annual Fund, of which the Parents' Fund is a part, is charged with raising enough to support the University's overall operating costs not covered by tuition. It's a substantial challenge, particularly when a tuition increase - no matter how small - becomes necessary. But when you consider that nearly $2.6 million of the University's budget is derived from Annual Fund donations, we're sure you'll agree that the Annual Fund is vital to Fairfield's continued success.

As parents faced with ever-rising college costs, it's sometimes tempting to skip that Annual Fund donation. But as parents who recognize the growth potential of a Fairfield degree for our sons and daughters, an Annual Fund donation is more like an investment - in our children's future and in the future of Fairfield University. We encourage you to contribute to the Parents' Fund today.

Student peers promote health

Did you send a Stress Pack to your student this semester? If so, then you're responsible for making a vast array of health education opportunities available to your son or daughter and every Fairfield student. Why?

Because funds raised from biannual stress pack sales support the Peer Education Network - a group of students who tackle a series of very important health and wellness issues on campus, including alcohol and drug use, sexual assault prevention, spring break safety, skin cancer screening, eating disorders and nutrition, time management, smoking cessation, women's and men's health issues, stress management, and AIDS and STD prevention. In addition to conducting programs in the residence halls, peer educators operate two weekly information centers - called topic tables - in the Barone Campus Center and hold a meeting each Sunday.

Students can apply for membership in the peer education network as early as freshman orientation or anytime during their Fairfield career; applications are available at the Wellness Wall in the Campus Center. Certification training takes place monthly, and although it isn't required for membership, only certified members can don the bright blue polo shirts and pins that readily identify this important campus group. In addition, only certified peer educators can represent the University at national and regional peer education conferences held annually or conduct specialized programs requested by residence life and Fairfield's faculty.

The Peer Education Network also houses Women-to-Women and Women's Wisdom, two programs geared toward linking female students with on-campus female mentors; Men-to-Men, a similar program for men; and the campus chapters of Students Against Destructive Decisions and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Peer Network members participate on the University's Wellness and Prevention Team, which includes the student health and counseling center team, the sexual misconduct and assault response team, and the Wellness and Prevention Advisory Committee.

Now aren't you glad you sent that Stress Pack? The Peer Education Network is - and thanks you for your past support.

Leaving Their Mark - The Class of 2002

By MaryEllen DiPietro '02

Four years ago you brought your child to Fairfield University and despite worrying about roommates, co-ed dorms, and homesickness, as you left you knew your child would soon feel at home. You'll be returning to Fairfield shortly for graduation, followed by good-byes as your child begins a new journey. But wherever your child goes, as a member of the Class of 2002, he or she will always be connected to the Fairfield community.

Each year the senior class demonstrates their ongoing involvement with Fairfield University through the Senior Giving Program. This year's graduating class is being asked to show their class pride by participating in this fund. With a gift of $20.02 from each senior, the entire class will leave a lasting mark on Fairfield University. Please encourage your son or daughter to contribute to the legacy the Class of 2002 will leave.

The Advancement Division of Fairfield University publishes Parent Ties three times a year for its current parents. Letters to the editor, address changes, and correspondence should be sent to:

Parent Ties
Bellarmine Hall Room 302
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
e-mail: parentties@mail.fairfield.edu
www.fairfield.edu

Editor
Sallyann Moore

Editorial Committee
Eileen Bossone
Clare Carney Schimpf '76
Ann Ventura